Notes

Pagan does not equate to Satanist

While one "brand" of Satanism does fall into the category of Paganism, there is indeed more than one type, and the one that has enough in common with paganism to be classed with it, LeVeyan Satanism, does not have anything to do with the Christian Satan, and, for the record, the belief in gods, or devils is not a part of that system. Therefore, the sacrifice of animals or people would be completely redundant, as there is no outside "god" to make the sacrifice to.

The other form of Satanism, actual worshipping of devils and demons, is an offshoot of Christianity, and is therefore NOT Paganism in any way, shape, or form.
It is this form of Satanism where the myths and stories of Pagans sacrificing animals and children to thier "demon-gods" come from, but I would like to reiterate, this is not paganism, it is devil worship. The difference is emense.
Please note that I am not saying that such sacrifice doesn't occur, simply reading the news is enough to put the lie to such a statement, and I know better than to say such a thing. However, what I am saying is that Pagans are NOT the people doing it, and neither, for that matter, are LeVeyan Satanists.
It is, rather, people who believe in the God/Satan conflict of the Judeo-Christian Religion who are perpetrating such henious acts, and not "US".